Q&A Home > S > Sin I am in great need of your spiritual advice and guidance. This is in regard to a very serious matter in my life. I have been battling and waging a spiritual war with the devil and my inner evil against the evil sin of adultery (This is not the form of adultery with an actual woman, but rather through my senses-eyes and body). I have grown to understand this sin more and more, and have become stronger in battling against it, yet it still has control over me, and it eventually causes me to fall after much struggling against it.
I have started a regular prayer schedule in the morning, in the evening, sometimes in the afternoon, and whenever I feel I need to be spiritually strengthened. I read a different part of the Holy Bible every day, and I read three particular chapters in the Holy Bible on a daily basis (I read Ephesians chapter 6 before I pray, Romans chapter 12 and 1 Corinthians chapter 13 in the morning before I begin the day, and I try to read new chapters in the Holy Bible in the evening or before I go to sleep. I must mention, however, that I occasionally do not pray at night due to laziness or being too tired). I am always aware of my sinfulness, and I repent and confess at least once every one to two weeks. I go to church every Sunday, dress as a deacon, and partake of the Holy Communion. I usually attend Vespers and the Holy Midnight Psalmody (Tasbeha) every Saturday. I am also a servant at my church, and I try to serve as much as I can due to the strong desire of love I have to do so (I call up the kids, set up trips for them, give them spiritual classes, and try to strengthen their spirituality). I commit sins, nonetheless, on a daily basis, but I usually seek God's forgiveness, and do my best to try to eliminate these sins from my life (often, I will be drifting away from God in my life, but the Lord will usually bring me back to the right path).
Self Control is definitely one of my major spiritual problems. When the sin of adultery enters my mind, I have learned to be able to overcome it for a period of time through prayer, fasting, prostrations, etc. I am able to struggle and overcome a few times, and for periods varying from hours to days and even weeks. But eventually, I am tempted extremely to a degree that I am no longer able to resist, and I give up ultimately out of exhaustion and commit the sin. I repent after I commit the sin, but once I've fallen, it is very difficult to overcome the sin anymore, and I am usually unable to fight until I confess and take communion again.
Please, your grace, I am greatly troubled by this sin. It is overcoming me and bringing me farther and farther away from our loving God.
What is your spiritual advice/recommendations? I see that you are trying to do all the right things and follow the commandments of the Holy Bible. Be sure that God will not overlook your struggle; but He knows your heart and how much you want to get rid of this sin. Do not give up but continue in your battle against sin without despair. Remember, "For we do not wrestle against flesh this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places" (Eph 6:12). You must get as far as possible from any source of temptation and chase it away as soon as the idea comes to your mind
Pray about it without ceasing and with the firm belief that God has listened to and answered your prayers. Our Lord Jesus Christ promised us "Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them" (Mk 11:24). Persistence is very important. It includes perseverance, determination and intensity. To be persistent in your demand, you need first to refuse totally to accept defeat. This will lead to determination to persevere and intensity in your prayers until your whole being is given to God in supplication. In the Holy Gospel of St. Luke we read that the Lord taught us the need for constant prayer and perseverance in prayer "I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs" (Lk 11:8) and we read the parable of the unjust judge. In prayer we must expect difficulties which can be conquered by determined perseverance
Please check this article about sexual addiction, it proved to be helpful to many:
http://www.newhopenow.org/notes/archive/love.lust.html
Also this book helped many with addiction in general: Steps of Transformation by Fr. Meletios Webber.
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